Daily Mail Puts Two and Two Together, Gets Gay Spider-Man

[Logan Westbrook]

Daily Mail Puts Two and Two Together, Gets Gay Spider-Man

A seemingly unambiguous statement about diversity in comic books has proven surprisingly easy to misinterpret.

The Daily Mail, the notoriously sensationalist British newspaper, has managed to get people talking about how the new Spider-Man could possibly be gay, after seemingly misinterpreting a quote from artist Sara Pichelli, who designed the character's new look.

The new Spider-Man is Miles Morales, a half-black and half-Hispanic teenager who takes on the Spider-man mantel after the death of Peter Parker in Marvel's Ultimate continuity. Speaking to USA Today, which was given the scoop about the change, Pichelli said that she could envision a future where more diverse comic book characters wouldn't be a big deal. "Maybe sooner or later," she said, "a black or gay - or both - hero will be considered something absolutely normal."

The Mail interpreted this comment as Marvel saying that it might one day make its new Spider-man gay, in an article that bore the headline "Marvel Comics reveals the new Spider Man is black - and he could be gay in the future [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021563/Marvel-Comics-reveal-new-Spider-Man-black-gay-future.html]." The paper also neglected to mention that it only applied to the Ultimate continuity until the latter part of the article. Other outlets have since picked up this version of the story, where it has garnered mixed responses.

While Pichelli's comment doesn't seem particularly ambiguous, it's entirely possible that the Mail simply misinterpreted it. However, it's hard to ignore the fact that including the gay angle in the headline has generated a lot more interest in the story. If this is a cynical attempt to get hits - and I'd really prefer to give the Mail the benefit of the doubt here - it's rather sad, because it ignores the fact that Marvel's has been trying to make the Ultimate universe a more inclusive place for years. While Spider-Man is the highest profile character to get a new ethnicity, he's definitely not the first; the Ultimate universe is where the Samuel L. Jackson-inspired black Nick Fury - later played by Jackson himself in several Marvel movies - first appeared, for example. Implying that the new, mixed race Spider-Man is some kind of publicity stunt, or tokenism inspired by political correctness, misrepresents and undermines Marvel's laudable efforts.

Source: via Bleeding Cool [http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/08/03/no-the-new-spider-man-is-not-gay-not-that-there-would-be-anything-wrong-with-that]



Permalink

 

[nolongerhere]

Why the fuck is Spiderman black now anyway? Yeah yeah, diversity and tolerance and all that bullshit. Im all for them, but making Spiderman black? Seems like a marketing ploy more than anything else. But hell, they know it, I know it and everyone else does to. Just a shame this will probably flop in a horrible way.

EDIT: Oh, and I almost forgot. Daily Mail is always good for a laugh, but not much else. This is a fine example indeed.

Well, Peter Parker died, and this kid took on the mantel. As for why he's black; well, why not? Why should he be white? Why should he be he? If he's well written, then will it really matter?

 

[lacktheknack]

Why the fuck is Spiderman black now anyway? Yeah yeah, diversity and tolerance and all that bullshit. Im all for them, but making Spiderman black? Seems like a marketing ploy more than anything else. But hell, they know it, I know it and everyone else does to. Just a shame this will probably flop in a horrible way.

EDIT: Oh, and I almost forgot. Daily Mail is always good for a laugh, but not much else. This is a fine example indeed.

Well, Peter Parker died, and this kid took on the mantel. As for why he's black; well, why not? Why should he be white? Why should he be he? If he's well written, then will it really matter?

No reason why the black guy can't be Spider Man. I'm just pissed that they KILLED PETER PARKER.

This is kind of like if Rocky V was published in which Sylvester Stallone dies, and some new guy tries to avenge his death in the ring blah de blah or something, and everyone is talking about how the new character is apparently gay. I wouldn't give care one way or another, I'd just be enraged that they killed Sylvester Stallone.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

I'm laughing at the fact that NO ONE who report this story knows jack squat about Spider-man and often quote it wrong.
No, that is Ultimate spider-man
Amazing Spider-man is alive, well and a bit of an Idiot from Spider-man island.

Also, people seems to forget, He's mix! Half-black-Half-Hispanic!

I think miles will be awesome due to this:

 

[emeraldrafael]

I see, taking the FOX News approach to reporting then.

in all seriousness, Im not a big comic book reader, so unless black spiderman comes to the movies or tv, I wont be seeing him. Not to say I would make a special case for white spiderman, jus in general. though its nice to see some diversity in the comic universe.

and maybe we will get an openly homosexual super hero that isnt a mockery of their sexual preference. It will be nice at least to have one.

 

[Covarr]

I don't mind diversity, but when a character exists solely to be diverse he becomes a caricature, and his presence is as racist as leaving him out. Compare to John Stewart, one of the Green Lanterns, whom truly showed how insignificant race is by not playing it up at every possible opportunity. Or Virgil Hawkins (Static), who was black to begin with, and surrounded with black culture, but that never took over the story because *gasp* he was defined by his personality as an individual and not simply his race.

Honestly, I *am* worried that this is a move directed towards political correctness, or a publicity stunt (or both). I have little faith in Marvel not to screw it up and be as preachy as possible.

P.S. Thanks

 

[Woodsey]

"I'd really prefer to give the Mail the benefit of the doubt here"

Because they've shown such professionalism in the past? You are too forgiving Mr Westbrook.

Who gives a fuck if he's gay anyway? It is perfectly understandable that most guys in media are white and straight. That's what the majority of content creators are, that's what the majority of content consumers are when it comes to comic and games.

But writing a character that isn't either of those is not fucking "political correctness gone mad" (political correctness is a good thing, incidentally; its the reason blacks aren't called niggers and treated like second-class citizens by the majority, and why Jews aren't treated like the Nazis treated them, etc. etc.).

I've said before, I'm not too keen on the creators actively coming out and pointing out that he's black, because it kind of undermines the idea that its progressive when they have to tell people its good, but if you're white and straight then of course your consciously deciding to not create someone who is white and straight. That doesn't make it PC or pandering.

 

[Saltyk]

I don't see why they would kill off Peter Parker and replace him with... anyone. It's like killing off Superman and replacing him with an Eskimo. It doesn't quite work. Superman is Clark Kent and no one else. Spiderman is Peter Parker. If they wanted to recast him, why not recast him in a new series? That way they wouldn't be destroying the entire series just to make the hero more diverse. Or here's an idea: create a new original character in a new original series.

To be honest, we all know how this will end. The fans won't like that they replaced Peter with some "new and improved" hero and eventually we'll learn that he didn't die. He was secretly recruited by SHIELD for a secret mission with Wolverine in a jungle wilderness. And now he has returned to take back his mantle as the true Spiderman. And this kid will be relegated to sidekick or less.

 

[SamStar42]

It's the Daily Mail. I'm surprised they didn't state the new Spidey was a gay Muslim immigrant who was living off benefits.

 

[thiosk]

Wait, so you mean spiderman is STRAIGHT?

Sheesh, way to misinterpret the character in the movies. I was convinced the kid was a total closet case.

 

[faefrost]

Oooo! He's gonna be Black!! and Hispanic! and Gay! Woohoo! Have we left out any possible ethnic or social minorities who don't have a history of comics reading or purchasing that we can attempt to pander to with this transparently obvious marketing stunt? It's idiotic because even if the character is well written he's got a big old 'DOOMED" sighn hanging over his head, and it ain't from the Latverian Doctor. It's yet another stunt. 18 issues/months from now we will get another big even build up for the return/rebirth/whatever of Spiderman were the fan favorite (even in the Ultimate books) Peter Parker makes his triumphant return. And this Black Spanish Gay dude will either die in some heroic or horrific sacrifice further adding to the whole Spiderman Uncle Ben type guilt drama, or he will simply be pointlessly blown away in the next crossover as some sort of cannon fodder to add weight to the crisis.

Don't believe me... check out how the "new" Captain America replacement is doing these days.

as far as diversity in comics... ummm what is the artist talking about? Has she ever actually read any of the books that she is being paid to draw? Or the rich history of characters that were created organically as such 20 and 30+ years ago?

God save us from fools and journalists

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

It's the Daily Mail. I'm surprised they didn't state the new Spidey was a gay Muslim immigrant who was living off benefits.

Who's also a paedophile.

Oh, if only Diana was here to save us!!!

The Daily Mail - If it ever gets something right, then it will be news

 

[F-I-D-O]

I'm fine with a black spiderman, and as long as it doesn't play with stereotypes, this isn't that big a deal. Now, if they changed Peter Parker black, that would be something completely different (Parker's a white geeky kid from new york, but that doesn't mean spiderman has to be)

 

[The Wykydtron]

Grass grows, birds fly, The Scout hurts people and The Mail keeps on spouting sensationalist bullshit.

I wouldn't be surpised if they tacked on "Spiderman may also give you Cancer" at the end of their report.

 

[YawningAngel]

I'd really prefer to give the Mail the benefit of the doubt here

That was your first mistake.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

How can somebody be a professional writer for a newspaper if they apparently have the reading comprehension skills of a third grader? Yes, I'm genuinely curious whether the Daily Mail's failure as a newspaper stems from the idiocy of the writers they hire, or whether they force their idiot writers to churn out oversensationalized and bullshit stories.

 

[ImprovizoR]

Why would anyone want to kill off Peter Parker anyway? Wouldn't that enrage the fans? I know it's Ultimate, but still. It seems a bit extreme to kill off an iconic character in any universe.

 

[Sabrestar]

It's the Daily Mail. Sample headline:

"Tabloid Prints Sensationalist Headlines, Makes Lots of Money!"